Network Planning Operational Research Expert

Job Title

Network Planning Operational Research Expert
Position Summary:

This role is a Senior Expert Individual Contributor within the Technical Expert career pathway. The position defines and drives enterprise-level airline network optimization strategy, ensuring solutions are scalable, trusted, and applicable at full airline network scale.

The role has material impact on Amadeus products, airline customer outcomes, and revenue, by shaping how airline planning problems are framed, optimized, and operationalized. The incumbent acts as a recognized authority in airline network planning optimization and contributes to knowledge sharing and technical leadership across Operations Research, Product, and Engineering teams.

Scope & Impact

• Operates at enterprise / airline-wide scale, influencing strategic and operational decision-making
• Influences product strategy and roadmap through deep OR and airline domain expertise
• Impacts airline profitability, robustness, and operational performance
• Recognized internally and externally as a subject-matter expert in airline network optimization
• No direct people management responsibility; influence is exercised through technical authority and thought leadership

In this role you'll:

Airline Network Optimization Leadership

• Define and own optimization strategy for airline network planning at full-network scale
• Translate airline business objectives (profitability, growth, robustness, recoverability) into scalable optimization approaches
• Challenge airline planning assumptions and influence how planners and stakeholders think about network trade-offs
• Ensure solutions are explainable, trusted, and operationally usable by airline customers

Advanced OR & Algorithmic Strategy

• Drive algorithmic strategy, not just model implementation
• Design and evolve large-scale optimization approaches covering:
• Network & schedule design
• Fleet assignment and aircraft routing
• Connectivity, alliance, and codeshare constraints
• Lead the selection of appropriate techniques, including:
• LP, MIP, and network flow models
• Decomposition approaches
• Hybrid exact + heuristic solutions for time-critical planning
• Define pragmatic approximations when exact optimization is not viable, without sacrificing business value

Knowledge Sharing & Technical Influence

• Act as a technical reference point for airline network planning optimization
• Share expertise across OR, Product, and Engineering teams
• Contribute to best practices, architectural decisions, and long-term technical vision

About the Ideal Candidate:

Education & Experience

• PhD or MSc (or equivalent) in Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related discipline
• Minimum 10 years of experience in a relevant role, with strong exposure to airline network planning or large-scale transportation optimization
• Senior Individual Contributor mindset with demonstrated enterprise-level impact

Required Technical Expertise (Non-Negotiable)

Airline Network Planning

Recognized expertise across:

• Full airline network & schedule design
• Fleet assignment, aircraft routing, and connectivity modeling
• Alliance and codeshare constraints
• Profitability, robustness, and operational trade-offs
• Strong understanding of how network planning decisions directly impact airline P&L, beyond mathematical optimality.

Operations Research & Optimization

Expert-level mastery of:

• Linear Programming (LP)
• Mixed-Integer Programming (MIP)
• Network flow models at industrial scale
• Proven ability to judge when not to apply MIP and select effective alternatives
• Experience designing scalable, production-ready optimization systems

Core Competencies

• Expertise & Thought Leadership - Recognized authority in a critical technical domain
• Strategic Thinking - Connects technical decisions to long-term business outcomes
• Influence without Authority - Shapes decisions across teams through expertise
• Customer Focus - Deep understanding of airline customer needs and operational realities

What we can offer you:

• Get rewarded with competitive remuneration, individual and company annual bonus, vacation and holiday paid time off, health insurances and other competitive benefits.
• Work hybrid.
• Professional development to broaden your knowledge and enhance your…